MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has independently confirmed with sources close to the event that both fighters have now verbally agreed to the matchup, which was first reported by MMAFighting.com.

While the UFC has yet to officially announce any bouts for UFC 129, the event is slated for April 30 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

UFC president Dana White also confirmed the matchup today to MMAFighting.com, reportedly calling the Couture-Machida clash a “done deal.”

UFC 129 is also expected to feature a welterweight title clash between current champion Georges St-Pierre and top contender Jake Shields.

This past October, Couture cast some doubt as to his fighting future by admitting he was focused more on potential acting roles than future in-cage matchups. However, “The Natural” never claimed he was completely finished with fighting.

Couture is currently enjoying a three-fight win streak that includes a heavyweight win over James Toney at this past August’s UFC 118 event, as well as two light heavyweight wins over Mark Coleman and Brandon Vera.

Meanwhile, after opening his career with 16-straight wins, Machida has now lost back-to-back fights. “The Dragon” surrendered the UFC light heavyweight title to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua this past May and then dropped a heartbreaking split decision to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in November.

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is probably the greatest female fighter on the planet, which is a tremendous feat. So why are we seemingly so obsessed with arguing about whether she could beat up men?